Drier for clay products.



N 834.584. H T T 1) 001130, 1- 06. R. w. LYLE. m EN 9 DRIER FOR CLAY PRODUCTS.

APPLIOATIOI FILED T133. 25. 1906.

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PATENTED OCT. 30, 190.6.

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83 R. w. LYLE.-

DRIER FOR CLAY PRODUCTS. APPLICATION P ILED IEB. 35, 1905.

.PATENTED OCT. 30

- 3 SHEETS-S11E31 3- No, 834,584. w. LYLE DRIER FOR CLAY PRODUCTS APILIOATIOH FILED T23. 25. 1905.

sing/1211?!!! mll UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

ROBERT W. LYLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct; 30, 1906.

Original application filed November 10, 1904, Serial No. 232,072. Divided and this application filed. February 25, 1905.

' v Serial No. 24:7,384.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W.- LY LE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of ,New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driers for Clay Products,

- of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to driers for clay products; and it has particular relation to an improved drier which is especially designed ,for use in systems or plants for drying and intermediately with relation to the factory and the kiln or burning media, the drier being provided with a series of tunnels or compartments in which the green conduit-sections or other clay products are stored on handcars during the drying period.

The improved drier constituting my present invention has direct relation in its subject-matter. and adaptability to the general system and means for drying and burning clay products which is described and illustrated in my previous application for patent, Serial No.282,072, filed November 10, 1904, from which application the subject-matter of this present application is divided.

" Driers 'or dry-houses designed for and adaptable to the special purposes above I stated have usually heretofore been heated by conveying and introducing into the interior. area of the tunnels or drying-compartments a limited percentage of'the roducts of combustion from the kilns, un er which circumstances the noxious gases and fumes in the products of combustion occupy the interior I area of the drying-compartments, which condition is objectionable, disadvantageous, and expensive in the drying of clay products such as those above'set forth. The drier has also heretofore been provided with independent heating media'for instance, furnaces at the ends of the drying tunnels or com artments and feeding-flues'in the latter, whic is expensive both in the consumption of fuel and labor required. The disadvantages and lack of economy in the previous systems of heating the drier are fully set forth in my above-mentioned copending application for patent and do not require further specific mention here.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved drier which is adaptable to the purposes and relationship above set forth and which is also adaptable for effective use in the general drying of clay products.

A further object of my invention and imrovements is to provide a drier of the class erein set forth which will be simple, inexpensive and effective in construction and inwhich the maximum of efficiency, convenience,

cleanliness, and rapidity and economy of operation will be secured.

This present application is divided from my original application for patent for systems and means for drying and burning clay products, filed November 10, 1904, Seria No. 232,072.-

In the drawings, Figure '1 is a diagrammatic plan view showing my improved drier (the roofbeing removed) inits relationship or association with the factory and kiln elements of a general system or plant for drying and burning clay products. Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal sectional view illustrating one of the dry-* ing tunnels or compartments of thedrier and taken on a plane above the heat-radiating elements, half of said view having the trackage removed and parts being broken away to show features of construction. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the drier on the plane of one of the drying tunnels or compartments and through one of the longitudinal heat-radiating flues therein. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken through the drier on a plane transversely of one of the drying tunnels or compartments.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view correspondingto Fig. 4 and illustrating, a modification in the construction of the longitudinal heat-radiating flues in the drying tunnel or compartment.- Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional 'view illustrating the relationship of the modified longitudinal heat-radiating flues shown in Fig. 5 to the transverse heat-radiating fiues of the drier. 6 is atop or plan view of part of the roof of the drier, illustrating the'ventilating elements therein. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view illustrating the construction of the expansion and contraction and fume-proof joint at the end of the top plate of the main transverse heat-radiating fluesof the drier. Fig. 7 a is a sectional view corre- Fig. ease-detail plan view; partly broken away, showing the connection of the products-of-combustion flues from the fans with the main transverse heat-radiating flue of the drier.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, K designates a series of kilns, from which extend suitable products-of-combustion flues, as indicated at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which are designed to connect with the heating system of the drier.

F designates fans, which are'arrangedto draw the products of combustion from the ki lns and force the sameto operative service in the heating system of the drier, these fans being preferably arranged in connection with the :terminalflues (indicated'at 4 and 5) of thkiln system. The'foregoing elements are comprised in the kiln system, the products of combustion from which are especially intended to beutilized in my improved drier. The

factory system is indicated at F in Fig. 1 and is shown as arranged at the initial or opposite side of the drier from the kiln system, the drier being intermediate with relation to the kiln system and the factory.

D designates the drier or drying-house, which is preferably arranged transversely with respect to the kiln system and factory and may bein close relationship thereto, as ind-icated'in-Fig. 1. The drier comprises a building-having end Walls d 'and d, respectively, preferably extending transversely of the kilns and 'factory system, and side walls 11 (1 extending from front to rear, a suitable roof d' being provided. The drier maybe its mainarrangement and compartment in structure of any suitable or adapted-com struction and preferably has a central compartment (1* extending from front to rear and forming. a storage-room or trackage-space, suitable trackage for the hand-cars carrying the-product being provided in thiscompartment, as at st, which 'trackageis in operative association with a storage-trackage, as at st provided'in' the kiln-yard and communicating with the general kiln-yard trackage yt, extending between the'l lns. At each side the central'compartment (Z is provided a seriesof drying tunnels orchambers, as at d, in'parallel relationship and extending from front to rear, said drying-tunnels being dividedby-partitions or walls, as at (1. Any

desired-capacity in the number of dryingtunnels may. be-employed, and each tunnel is provided with a series of'parallel longitudinally-extending tracks-,as at it, for the handcars carrying the product to be dried. Any

desired-number of tunnel-tracks it may be employed, and the whole set of the same can communicate with the centra-l-con'ipartment trackage stand with the yard-trackage si by means of a transfer-track, as'at i25 extending transversely with respect to the compartments or chambers of the drier and provided longitudinally of both the end walls (I and d, as show 11.

Within the drier D, extending transversely of the whole series of drying tunnels or cha1nbers and at each end thereof, are flues 6 and 7, respectively, built below the ground or floor-plane. These fiues 6 and 7 may be constructed of brick or masonry or other suitable material. Suitable doors or closed openings, as at (1, may be provided for the compartments or chambers of the drier in the walls (1 and d of the latter. The fan-fines 5 are shown extending to one of the main transverse drier-fines 6, preferably entering the latter at a common central point, as shown, and at this point the drier-flue 6 is preferably provided with a double deflector, as shown at (i so that the heating products from the fans will be diverted in opposite directions to feed the series of drying-tunnels ateach side the central compartment of the drier.

The main underground yard-fines 1 to 5 inclusive, are designed to retain the heat an are consequently of such uniform structure that they will not radiate the same, the whole heat value of the kilns being designed for use in the drier; but the drier-flues 6 and 7 are designed to radiate the heat, and for this purpose they are provided with radiating tops d. These radiating tops are preferably formed of bowed or arched longitudinal metallic plates (1, resting upon continuous shoulders or offsets d on the masonry side walls d of the fines 6 and 7, and their ends can rest upon curved shoulders or offsets d" upon the end walls (1 of said flues, as shown in the modification illustrated in Fig. 7. To form a tight joint against the escape of the heating products or noxious gases or fumes into the interior of the drying chamber and to further provide for the contraction and expansion of the metallic plate (1", I fill in, above the edges of the arched plate where they rest upon the supporting-shoulders, with sand, as shown at d, which forms an effective joint for both purposes mentioned. Any other suitable joint means'may, however, be employed. In constituting the joint at the endsof the arched plates (1" the terminal ends of the plates, as at (Z can be received by corresponding recesses d in the end walls (Z of the flues 6 and 7, which permits of contraction and expansion of the plates in said end recesses and, furthermore, does not permit of escape of gases or fumes, this construction being shown in Fig. 7. In connection with the joint means described it will be understood that the force of the draft in the drier-fines is continuous to the main stacks, (shown at 8,) which will be hereinafter described, and overcomes any tendency to emission of gases or fumes at the j oint-points.

In the drying tunnels or chambers (Z are provided flues 8, extending from front to rear longitudinally of the tunnel and com- :rnunicating at their ends with the main drier intake-flue6 and outlet-flue 7, respectively. The flues 8 are radiating-flues and may be of tubular cylindrical form and constructed ofmetal. They are arranged below the ground or floor-plane, one or more tubes extendingv longitudinally under the tunneltrack upon which stand the cars carrying the product to be dried, and when more than one track is provided in the tunnel the flues8 are correspondingly arranged under each track. With a plurality of tracks and their under fiues 8 the flues may be divided or separated by masonry walls or partitions, as at t which divide the space under each tunnel-track into separate flue-compartments t and said suitable manner. 1

To provide a tight joint against escape of gases or fumes and to furthermore effectively meet contraction and expansion of the metallic tunnel-fiues 8 at'their point of connection 'at each end with the main drier-flues 6 and 7, I prefer to employ a construction in which a supplementary wall t, of masonry or other suitable material, is arranged a short distance beyond the inner side walls d of the fines 6 and 7, and the end portions 1. of the flues 8 pass through corresponding, openings 15 in both of the walls 15 and d. A gasket or ring of asbestos or other suitable material may surround the flues 8 in the openings 19*, as shown at t", and the spacebetween the walls t and (1 may be'filled in with a packing 19, of sand or other suitable material. The joint thus produced is not affected by contraction or expansion of the flues 8, and

the sand packing avoidsescape of gases or erned, as desired.

' suitable manner.

fumes.

The tunnel-fines 8 are provided, preferably at each end, with suitable dampers t, whereby the flues may be shut ofi from heat connection and the tunnels independently gov- When a plurality of flues 8 are provided in each tunnel, the set of dampers t may be connected and simultaneously operated by any suitable operating mechanism, such as a connecting-rod t".

Manholes 25 may also be provided at suitable intervals in the fiues 8 to enable cleansing and inspection, as desired.

A circulation of the hot air in the drier and construction herein illustrated, which comprises a series of vertical air vents or passages 12, extending downwardly in the partitionwallsd, which divide the drying tunnels or chambers, these walls being constructed of brick or masonry. At their lower ends the at suitable passages '1) have an outlet connection '0 opening into the space or flue-compartment t, surrounding the flue 8 and on a plane below said flue. At their top ends the passages 0 open through the roof of the drier D and may be continued, as'at 0 through extensions o projecting above the roof, the inlet end 11 of the passage being protected against the weather by a suitable cap 12 These passages may be governed by dampers of any sultable construction, (not shown,) which may be arranged at their top ends, if desired. The hot air ascending in the tunnels will create a strong draft for drawing in the cold air through the passages 42 and delivering it adj acent to the fines 8. In the roof of the drier, over the tunnels, are provided hot-air-outlet chimneys, as at o", to enhance the draft and circulation, which outlets may be protected I by a suitable cap 12 and may be governed by dampers of any suitable construction, (not shown,) if desired.

When'a plurality of flues 8 and flue spaces or compartments t are employed ineach drying-tunnel, the outlet connection 0 of the air-passages o may be continued transversely of the tunnel, in the intermediate cross-walls t under the fines 8, and through the div'idingpartitions i under which circumstances the outlet-openings v for the air-passages o will extend from the outlet connection 11 upwardly in the cross-walls F, as shown.

To enable very quick cooling of the drier D or its respective tunnels or compartments, a

series of skylights o are provided in the roof of the drier over each compartment and have a top o which may be opened or closed and governed by suitable regulating mechanism, as at 0 The general construction of the drier thus involves rovision for thoroughly opening up and coo ing it, as desired. The provision of suitable damper arrangements oints in any of the main kilnyard flues efore they reach the inlet drierflue 6 will enable the quick and entire shutting off of heat to the drier, as desired.

The main outlet drier-fli1e 7 which corresponds in construction and arrangement to --the inlet-flue 6, has at each .end an outlet extension 9, which extensions respectively open into main stacks S. These stacks S in the general heating arrangement for the drier, as

herein illustrated and described, by means of all the products of combustion from the kiln system specifically serve as the outlet-stacks for the whole kiln system by reason'of the intermediate flues 1 to 9 extending between the kilns and stacks, as hereinbefore described. In lieu of two stacks S one may be employed. The stacks S are located intermediately between the drier D and the factory F, and the drier D is interm ediately between the main stacks S and the kilns which the stacks serve. The outlet extension flues 9 are underground and are preferably provided with &

dampers s, which may be closed to shut off the heat circulation in the flue system of the drier. Said circulation is also effectively governed by the starting or stoppage and speed of the fans F.

In lieu of the fiue construction and arrangement in the drying tunnels or chambers as hereinbefore described I may employ in the tunnels a flue arrangement practically the same in construction as the main drier inlet and outlet fiues 6 and 7, as shown in the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 and 5 of the drawings. In this modified construction a flue 8 is provided under each tunnel-track and is the same in construction as the fiues 6 and 7 with the metallic top plate d and the same construction and arrangement for providing for contraction and expansion of the plate and the sand packing at the joints for providing against the escape of gases and fumes. The fiues 8 communicate at their ends with the main fiues 6 and 7 through openings min the side walls d of the latter, and the side Walls of the fiues 8 are formed by the walls or partitions i which support the tunnel-tracks, and by the tunnel Walls or partitions d. When this modified arrangement is employed, the outlet connection 11 of the air-passages Q) will open on a plane above the metallic top plates (1 of the fiues 8, (see Fig. 5,) and the dampers for the tunnel-fiues, as at m, can be provided at the openings m.

In thedrylng-tunnels the usual point of least heat, and consequently the point where heat is most needed, is at the ends of the tunnel, and it is to effectively meet this requirement and overcome the objection just noted that I provide the main transverse drier-fiues 6 and 7 at the ends of the tunnels.

When the dampers t of the tunnel-fiues 8 are independently mounted in their operative relation to the respective fiues 8, the latter can be cleaned of any deposit of the products of combustion therein automatically and without the use by workmen of the manholes 13 by employing the high-power draft of the fans F through one or more of the fiues 8, the fiues to be cleaned being individualized by shutting off the dampers of the other fiues 8.

While I have herein illustrated and described my improved drier in its special relationship to a system of heating by means of all the products of combustion conveyed from a kiln or kilns while in course of burning, it will be understood that the general construction and arrangement of parts and fea-.

tures as comprised in my improved drier are adaptable to service in relation to any other suitable heating media.

I have shown at 0 openings in the metallic top plates of the drier-fiues 6, 7, and 8 or in the tops of the tubular longitudinal metallic fiues of the drying tunnels or compartments,

these openings being normally closed by caps or covers, as shown at 0 These openings and their closures may be employed under special conditionsfor instance, when the products of combustion being fed to the fiues are not noxious or otherwise objectionable, which would sometimes be the case when the kilns are not operating in the process of salt glazing. Under these circumstances the heating media could be passed into the interior of the drier through these openings.

It will be understood that when the tubular metallic fiues are employed in the dryingtunnels I may in lieu of using only one large flue under each tunnel-track, as shown in Fig. 4, employ a set or plurality of said tubular metallic fiues under each track.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. My improved drier, in connection with the general kiln system and heating media to which it is especially adapted, provides a general means under which all the manufacturing elements are compactly and closely associated-to wit, the factory, drier, and kilns in successive operative arrangement and for correlative operation in which all heat values are utilized it enables the use of absolutely all the products of combustion from the kilns at all times of kiln operation for service in the drier; it employs but one heating expenditure for the use of both the drier and kilns and for both the operations of drying and burning; it makes the drier an intermediate part of the kiln system; it obviates the disadvantage of having any products of combustion free within the interior area of the drierand enables safe and convenient operation within the drying-tunnels at all times desired it provides for the convenient regulation of degrees and circumstances of operation in both the drying and burning elements at all times, and it secures maximum utility and economy in construction and in operation.

I do not herein claim specifically the general features of the kiln system and other parts of the manufacturing elements which are associated with and related to my improved drier embodied in my present application, said kiln system and other related manufacturing elements being included in my original application, filed November 10 1904, Serial No. 232,072, from. which original application the present application for the drier has been divided.

I do not desire to be understood. as limiting myself to the detail features of construction and arrangement as herein shown and. described, as it is evident that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement, in the adaptation of the invention, and improvements to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I

therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. As an improvement in means for drying clay products, a drier having a main large flue-c amber, as at 6, extending across the end 0f the drying tunnel or compartment and contained entirely within the drier, a radiating top for said flue 6 extending across the drying-tunnel and exposed directly therein, relatively smaller heat radiating flues extending from said large end flue 6 longitudinally in the drying tunnel or compartment, a kiln system exterior of the drier, and means for conveying the products of com bustion of the kiln system to said flue 6, for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improvement in means for drying clay products, a drier having a main large flue-chamber, as at 6, extending across the end of the drying tunnel or compartment and contained entirely within the drier,'a radiating top for said flue 6 extending across the drying-tunnel and exposed directly therein, heat-radiating flues extending from said large end flue 6 longitudinally in the 'drying tunnel or compartment, means for'independently closing said longitudinal flues from the end flue 6, a kiln system exterior of the drier, and means for conveying the products of combustion of the kiln system to said flue 6, for the purpose set forth.

.3. As an improvement in means for drying clay products, a drier having a high-heat externally-closed conducting-flue, a main flue into which said conducting flue opens, a double support at the point of communication of the conducting-flue with the main flue, which supports movably receive and surround the conducting-flue, and a filling or packing surrounding the conducting-flue between the members of the double support.

4. As an improvement in means for drying clay products, a drier having a heat-conducting flue, a metallic heat-conducting flue entering the wall of said first flue, a supplementary wall outside the wall of said first flue and receiving the metallic flue and a filling or packing surrounding the metallic flue between said walls, whereby a loose-joint connection is formed.

- 5. As an improvement in means for drying clay products, a drier, externally-closed heatradiating flues contained within the drier, a products-of-combustion flue communicating with the said first flues, forced-draft means communicating with the products-of-combustion flue, and means for closing one or more of said first flues from the products-ofcombustion flue so that the forced draft can be directed solely through one or more of the flues, for the purpose set forth.

6. As an improvement in means clay products, a drier having heat-radiating flues provided with a longitudinal shoulder or support at the inner side of the flue-walls, an arched metallic topspringing between for drying said walls and having its longitudinal edges resting upon said su ports, and a granular packing covering sai longitudinal edges.

7. As an improvementin means for drying clay products, a drier having externallyclosed heat-radiating flues extending in the drying tunnel or compartment and comprising a radiating top, a kiln system exterior of the drier, means for passing combustion from the kiln system to said flues, openings 0 in said flues arranged in the line of passage of said products of combustion, and a closure 0 for said openings, for the purpose set forth.

8. As an improvement in means for drying clay products, a drier having a plurality of drying tunnels or compartments, heat-radiating flues contained in the respective com partments and connected in system, a source of heat-supply exterior of the drier, means for passing said heat-supply from said source to said flues, forced-draft means communicating with said passage means, and means for independently closing said flues against the system connection and against the forceddraft means so that the forced draft can be directed solely through an individualized set of said flues, for the purpose set forth.

9. As an improvement in means for drying clay products, a drier having a high-heat-con ducting flue, a main flue into which said conducting-flue opens, a double support at the point of communication of the conductingflue with the main flue, which support movably receives and surrounds the conductingflue, and a filling or packing surrounding the conductingflue between the members of the double support.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT W. LYLE.

Witnesses:

W. A. SNow, F. W. CAMERON.

the products of ITO 

